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Mrs. Mary Carolyn Crowe Beard was born in her grandfather’s house in Elizabethton, Tenn., on July 21, 1934. He was Daniel Stover Crowe, a cabinetmaker. She was one of five children born to the late Frank Patten Crowe and Amelia Stover Fondren Crowe.
Mary was a charter member of the Jonesborough Civic Trust.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe Ritchie Beard, on November 22, 1997, after 42 years of marriage, and four siblings, Edwin Hunter Crowe, Lt. Daniel Charles Crowe, Margaret Elizabeth Manney of Jonesborough, Tenn., and Pauline Alda Musick of Greeneville, Tenn. She was also preceded in death by a much loved grandmother, Georgia Ann Fondren, who taught her to read when she was four years old, a lifelong gift.
She is survived by her children, Ritchie Kevin Beard and wife Mary, Amelia Anne Cohagan and husband Rick, and Lisa Kelly Morse and husband Gary; her grandchildren, Ritchie Lane Beard and wife Ashleigh, Lindsay Beard Smith and husband Shawn; Jessica Ruth Cohagan Candelario and husband Bryan, Benjamin Draper Morse, Daniel Paul Cohagan; Sarah Carolyn Morse, and Mary Frances Cohagan Emerson and husband Brendyn; great-grandchildren, Maelynn June Beard, Zachary Joseph Candelario, Joanna Mary Candelario, Riley Kate Beard, Nicholas Manuel Candelario, Jospehine Ruby Emerson, and Thomas Daniel Candelario.
Mrs. Beard passed away December 21, 2023. There will be a private graveside service at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tenn., at a later date.
Ligon & Bobo Funeral Home of Lebanon (615) 444-2142 www.ligonbobo.com